Aid, Relief & Health

Note: An asterisk (*) next to a source means it hasn’t yet been fully reviewed by the PTB team.

Before the welfare state, economist Milton Friedman explains, non-governmental solutions were numerous, and these solutions declined after the growth of the welfare state. The key institution that provided across-the-board aid was the “mutual aid” or “friendly” society: voluntary, cooperative organizations that pooled resources from members for mutual benefit.

Chicago fire (1871) – A voluntary mutual aid society – the Chicago Relief and Aid Society – successfully collected funds and administered aid during and after a devastating 19th century disaster, even in the absence of charity tax breaks, or the expectation of state or federal relief. For details, Press Me!